Over the past two decades, there has been a one-third decline in global tobacco use, resulting in approximately 118 million fewer tobacco users today compared to 2005. This positive trend is largely attributed to the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), which entered into force 20 years ago. This treaty is considered one of the most widely embraced United Nations agreements in history.
The WHO FCTC represents a significant milestone in international law as the first treaty negotiated under the WHO Constitution. Its primary objective is to control the demand and supply of tobacco by incorporating multiple measures. Currently, the convention has 183 parties, covering 90 percent of the world’s population. As a result, more than 5.6 billion individuals are protected by the comprehensive implementation of at least one tobacco control measure.
Examples of the convention’s success include the fact that 138 countries now require large pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages. Additionally, dozens of countries have implemented plain packaging rules, which prohibit branding on cigarette packages, making them less appealing. Furthermore, 66 countries have implemented bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, while more than one-quarter of the world’s population is safeguarded by bans on indoor smoking and smoke-free laws. The most cost-effective tool to reduce tobacco consumption remains increased taxes on tobacco products, which also generate government revenues for tobacco control and health financing.
In 2018, an additional legal instrument came into force – a protocol aimed at eliminating all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products. This illicit trade undermines control measures, diminishes tax revenue, and fuels criminal activities.
Despite this progress, tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death and contributes to various diseases, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. The industry, driven by profit motives, continues to create addictive and dangerous products. The industry is now shifting focus to new products like e-cigarettes, which are falsely advertised as healthier alternatives but have been found to cause cancer and increase the risk of heart and lung disorders.
The tobacco industry is also notorious for targeting millions of young individuals and attracting them to their products. Regrettably, only 56 countries are expected to achieve the global goal of a 30 percent reduction in tobacco use by 2025.
Besides being a significant health issue, tobacco poses a threat to sustainable development. The economic burden of smoking, including healthcare expenditure and productivity losses, is estimated to account for 1.8 percent of the world’s annual gross domestic product. The environment suffers as well, with approximately 4.5 trillion cigarette butts being discarded every year, contributing to plastic pollution. Valuable resources, such as agricultural land and water, are wasted on tobacco cultivation instead of food production. Additionally, tobacco production and consumption contribute to global warming, releasing 80 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
Given these factors, the WHO FCTC remains as relevant today as when it was first implemented 20 years ago. Despite its uneven implementation across countries, many areas still require strengthening. Countries can take steps to combat tobacco use by banning sponsorship and advertising in traditional and social media, as well as protecting public health policies from tobacco industry interference.
By fully implementing the WHO FCTC’s provisions, countries can safeguard the health and well-being of their citizens, improve economic stability, and protect the environment for generations to come.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/2/27/the-tobacco-epidemic-is-still-one-of-the-worlds-deadliest-threats?traffic_source=rss
